Northwood’s Kyle Kim-E could have his hands full coaching two water polo teams at once

Kyle Kim-E (left) coaches the Timberwolves in the playoffs last November. (File photo Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone)

Northwood High School Coach Kyle Kim-E is going to be one of the coaches in Orange County facing multiple challenges in December if the CIF plan announced Monday for girls and boys water polo and other sports takes effect.

Kim-E is the head coach of both the boys and girls water polo teams at Northwood. Boys water polo is normally a fall sport and begins in August while girls water polo has been a winter sport starting in December.

But as part of the plan introduced Monday, both sports would be held in December 2020. Boys water polo would start on Monday, Dec. 21 and girls water polo on Monday, Dec. 28. Both seasons would have CIF playoffs in March 2021 if all goes as planned.

“I think everyone knew that cancelling sports was the last resort and the outcome that no one wanted, so in respect to that I’m happy that we’re going to have both the boys and girls water polo seasons,” Kim-E said in an Email Monday.

“I do have to admit though that I was a little surprised that CIF-SS did not try to accommodate multi-sport athletes and coaches more. We’re definitely going to lose some athletes from both programs for sports participating at the same time and vice-versa.

“I was more in favor of trying to compete in shortened seasons and having it look something like fall sports in January and February, winter in March and April, and spring in May and June. But it’s ultimately the CIF-SS’s decision and I know that they probably spent countless hours in making their decision, so I’m trusting that it’s the best decision and outcome for all sports.”

There will be a number of issues that Kim-E will need to deal with, including scheduling.

“Personally, there are going to be a number of troubling issues such as figuring out pool space and some other logistics, but I think that it’ll all work itself out,” he said.

Kim-E, who is also a full-time teacher at Northwood, said he plans to continue to coach both teams.

“Right now my plan is to coach both programs, which will require me to come up with some creative ways in order to achieve the same level of success our programs have had over the last several seasons,” he said. “I’m looking forward to the challenge though and I know with the coaching staff and families that I get to work with, this is just a temporary obstacle.”

CIF officials indicated that schools will have to return to face to face schooling in order for the plan to take place. Gov. Gavin Newsom said last week that most schools in the state would have to start with on-line courses only because of rising coronavirus cases. Districts have to show reduced rates in order to have students back on campus.

-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com